Careers in Hong Kong

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Overview
Early careers
Tab Item 3

Working in Hong Kong

As the first Hogan Lovells office in the Asia-Pacific region, we take pride in being the largest, with a multilingual, multinational, and multicultural team of more than 140. A leading global law firm, Hogan Lovells has 2,600+ lawyers operating out of 44+ offices around the world.

Hogan Lovells Hong Kong office interior We’re committed to investing in our employees and providing an ambitious and supportive culture for their personal and professional growth. With us, you are part of our team, but we also always treat you as an individual. No matter where you are in your career journey, we are committed to helping you achieve your aspirations through ongoing professional and personal development and continuous learning. We offer the road map, and it is up to you to take your career where you want to go.

We provide unparalleled professional development to nurture talent at all levels. Our large size and extensive capabilities provide you with an international stage for developing your career. From your first day with us, you’ll have a mentor, a personalized development program, and access to continuing education courses tailored to your focus areas. We offer a structured yet dynamic career path, which gives you not only a clear perspective on your future but also the tools you need to keep advancing, including the possibility of working for one of our international offices.

What we do

For over 40 years, we have been advising clients on critical business and precedent-setting legal matters. Whether supporting international clients on their regional expansion or helping local businesses go global, our practices cover the full spectrum of corporate, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, banking and finance, intellectual property, real estate, litigation, and arbitration, with market-leading intellectual property and technology practices in Greater China.

Our people are the key to our success. We seek to recruit and retain the most talented individuals in all regions of our global practice, including in Hong Kong. We offer exceptional career opportunities to our lawyers, aspiring graduates, and Business Team functions, in an environment that is challenging, rewarding, and, we believe, truly different from that of our competitors.

Are you exploring a career in law, seeking to elevate your career as an experienced lawyer, looking to grow your skills within our Business Team? Define your Future. Find out more about our current opportunities.

Find out more about our Hong Kong office.

Join our global community. Elevate your career. Define your Future.

Apply now

Vacation schemes and training contracts

Our Hong Kong office offers two vacation schemes of four weeks each, which run in June and July each year. We take approximately five to six students each month, and we make three to four training contract offers primarily to those who have attended one of our summer vacation schemes.

Vacation schemes

During the vacation schemes, you will work on client matters in two departments, and increase your knowledge through formal skills and legal training, group and individual exercises, and social and pro bono activities.

Application Deadlines:

Summer vacation scheme

- June and July 2024

- Applications open: 1 October 2023

- Applications open: 7 January 2024

- Applications re-open (2025 intake): 1 October 2024

All vacation schemes conclude with an interview for a 2026 training contract.

Am I eligible?

We are looking for candidates with excellent academic records, strong awareness of business and current affairs, and good communication skills. Fluency in English (both spoken and written) is most important. Cantonese and Mandarin skills are also strongly desirable.

How do I apply?

Apply for our vacation scheme.

When do I apply?

You should apply in the penultimate year of your legal studies. Because offers are made on a rolling basis, it is best to apply early.

Application Procedure

We are currently revamping our selection process. Details will appear on this website as soon as they are available.

Training contracts

Our Hong Kong office recruits trainee solicitors two years in advance.

We take three to four trainees per year. Training contracts last for two years and you will gain experience in four practice areas (including six months on secondment to one of our international offices). Your seat preferences are taken into account when you join the firm and you are able to have a say in your own career development as your training contract progresses.

Am I eligible?

We are looking for candidates with excellent academic records, good commercial and current awareness and strong communication skills. Fluency in English is a pre-requisite and Cantonese and Mandarin skills are strongly desirable.

When should I apply?

Our Hong Kong office recruits trainee solicitors two years in advance. You should apply in the penultimate year of your qualifying law degree. This allows you a year to complete your legal studies and a further year to take the PCLL course and pass the examination before joining us.

How do I apply?

We prefer to recruit our trainees through our vacation schemes, which conclude with a training contract interview. However we do accept applications from candidates who are unable to take part in our vacation schemes, for whatever reason. Apply for a training contract.

PCLL and conversion examinations

Hong Kong trainee solicitors need to take and pass the PCLL course in Hong Kong before they can begin their training. The firm pays for your PCLL course and any necessary conversion examinations. We also provide a stipend for your living expenses during the PCLL year.